Speech & Language

There are several types of speech-language disorders that a child may have.  Following is a list of the mostly commonly addressed speech-language disorders in children.

Speech sound disorders occur when a child makes mistakes with speech sounds past a certain age.  Each sound has a different age when the child should make the sound currently.  Speech sound disorders include problems with articulation (making sounds) and phonological processes (sound patterns).

 Articulation disorder involves problems making sounds or leaving out sounds that should be appropriate for a particular age.

 Phonological process disorder involes patterns of sound errors.  For example, a typical sound error would be the substitution of all the sounds made in the back of the throat like "k" and "g", for those sounds made in the front of the mouth like "t" and "d".

Language disorders involve difficulty understanding and talking

Understanding - receptive language

            Understanding what gestures mean

            Following directions

            Answering questions

            Identifyng objects and pictures

           Taking turns when talking with others

Talking - expressive language

            Asking questions

            Naming objects

            Using gestures

            Putting words together to make sentences

            Learning songs and rhymes

            Using correct pronouns like "he", "my" or "they"

            Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going.

Go to treatment ideas for speech and language deficits